US Warship Visits Chinese-Built Ream Naval Base in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH— A United States Navy warship has made its first-ever visit to Cambodia’s Chinese-built Ream Naval Base. The port call by the USS Cincinnati took place on Cambodia’s southern coast and signals a cautious warming of ties between Washington and Phnom Penh.

The visit occurred against the backdrop of renewed diplomatic outreach, with official engagement centered in Phnom Penh City and nearby Sihanoukville City. Analysts view the development as symbolically significant rather than transformational, underscoring a recalibration rather than a realignment of Cambodia’s foreign policy.

Ream Naval Base

Ream Naval Base has been rebuilt over the past three years with Chinese funding and technical support, replacing older facilities that included US-backed infrastructure.

By early 2025, the base featured a 650-meter pier capable of hosting large warships, a 5,000-ton dry dock, and expanded logistical areas.

The facility now covers roughly 190 acres, with additional road and airport upgrades extending its functional footprint. Satellite imagery has previously highlighted structural similarities between Ream’s pier design and Chinese-operated naval facilities overseas, fueling regional concern about its long-term strategic role.

Cambodia has repeatedly stated that the base is not reserved for any single foreign power. Officials have emphasized that Ream is open to all navies, a claim reinforced by recent port calls from Japan, Vietnam, and Russia.

Regional Reactions

The arrival of a US warship at Ream has prompted mixed reactions across the region. Some analysts argue the visit challenges China’s influence in mainland Southeast Asia and could trigger diplomatic friction behind closed doors.

Others caution against reading the port call as a decisive geopolitical shift. China remains Cambodia’s largest investor and a key trade partner, and its economic footprint continues to shape Phnom Penh’s strategic calculations.

Regional observers note that Cambodia has historically played a critical role within ASEAN by aligning with Beijing on sensitive issues, including South China Sea negotiations.

Any perception of drift toward Washington therefore carries wider implications for regional diplomacy.

Strategic Balancing

Since 2021, US-Cambodia relations have been constrained by an American arms embargo and the suspension of joint military exercises, reported Defense News.

Those ties have begun to recover following leadership changes in Phnom Penh and renewed dialogue on security cooperation.

The resumption of US naval access, alongside plans to restart joint Angkor Sentinel military exercises, suggests a gradual effort to restore trust. Cambodian leaders appear intent on projecting neutrality by welcoming multiple partners while avoiding overt alignment with any single power.

The USS Cincinnati’s visit does not erase China’s preferential access to Ream, but it does complicate narratives of exclusivity.

For Phnom Penh, the move reflects a balancing act aimed at preserving sovereignty, diversifying partnerships, and reducing overdependence on one strategic patron.

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